Child Support Age Limit in Australia: When Does It End?

Child support doesn't run indefinitely. There are clear rules about when it ends, what triggers early termination, and whether it can continue in limited circumstances after a child turns 18.

The Standard Age Limit

The standard rule is that child support ends when the child turns 18. The one exception is if the child is still in secondary school in the year they turn 18 — in that case, child support continues until 31 December of that year.

Example: A child turns 18 in March while enrolled in Year 12. Child support continues until 31 December. If the child turns 18 in October after finishing Year 12, support ends on their birthday.

Child support does not automatically extend to cover the gap year, TAFE, university, or any post-secondary education.

When Child Support Ends Before 18

Child Gets Married

Child support ends immediately if the child marries, regardless of their age.

Child Enters a De Facto Relationship

If the child begins living in a de facto relationship before turning 18, child support ends.

Child Is Adopted

If the child is legally adopted by another person during this period, the original child support assessment ends.

Child Becomes Self-Supporting

Either parent can apply to end the assessment if the child is working full-time or otherwise financially independent. Services Australia will assess the application and make a decision.

Child Dies

Child support ends immediately.

Can Child Support Continue After 18?

Not through Services Australia's standard assessment process. Once the assessment ends, Services Australia no longer collects or manages payments.

That said, there are limited pathways for post-18 support:

• A voluntary private arrangement between parents
• A Family Court order under section 66L of the Family Law Act — available for adult children with a serious disability or special needs who cannot support themselves
• A Binding Child Support Agreement signed before the child turned 18 that includes post-18 provisions

What About University or TAFE Costs?

Services Australia's child support system does not cover tertiary education costs. A child attending university or TAFE at 18 or older is not entitled to child support through the standard assessment.

If both parents want to share these costs, the options are a voluntary private arrangement or a Binding Agreement. A Family Court can also order ongoing maintenance for an adult child with a disability, but not simply for education.

What Happens to Arrears After the Child Turns 18?

Any unpaid child support that accumulated before the assessment ended is still legally owed and still collectible by Services Australia. Arrears don't expire when the child turns 18.

Services Australia can continue to pursue unpaid arrears after the assessment ends — including wage garnishing, ATO intercepts, and passport cancellation.

What Should You Do When Child Support Is About to End?

• Confirm the exact end date with Services Australia through myGov
• Review any private agreements to understand what changes
• Consider whether a voluntary arrangement for post-18 support makes sense for your family
• Check whether Family Tax Benefit or other government payments you receive will change
• If there are arrears outstanding, follow up with Services Australia on collection